Find mental garbage bin to deal with trash talk

Like many of you, I maintain a list of favorite things. For instance, my hamburger of choice is the mushroom burger. My preferred sport is football, and San Francisco is my most beloved city. Nothing on my list is too surprising, except for a favorite trash can.

This particular bin sits in the post office where I receive mail from my readers.

No, I don't normally discard reader mail - far from it. Most of it comes from people sharing their personal stories or prayer requests; some of it from critical thinkers who ask that I reconsider my views.

However, some missives are better suited for the blue recycle box. These letters begin with a bullying barrage of banalities and end with a litany of judgmental name-calling.

I tell you this because, like me, you've known the sting of criticism from a passing acquaintance or rude co-worker who hasn't bothered to know the real you.

How can you deal with such criticism? Allow me to share three strategies.

Pray. Pray for two things. First, pray forgiveness for the critical person. Second, ask for wisdom to see and confess your part in the criticism. We do this because Jesus said, "Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." It's not what the prayer will do for the critical person; it's what it'll do for you.

Prioritize. You must sort through criticism. Give the critique strong consideration only if it comes from someone who cares about the outcome of your life. In such a case, you must examine it for truth. There's an old saying: "If one person calls you a donkey, ignore it. If three people call you a donkey, buy a saddle."

Purge. When it comes to the toxicity of negative criticism, look for the metaphorical equivalent to the trash can. Many of us purge through physical activity, such as gardening or hiking. Others use therapy pets.

Finally, at the end of the day, I advise you to filter all critical words though the words of the Apostle Paul: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."

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Find mental garbage bin to deal with trash talk

Like many of you, I maintain a list of favorite things. For instance, my hamburger of choice is the mushroom burger. My preferred sport is football, and San Francisco is my most beloved city.